Main Entry:

shire

Pronunciation:

\ˈshī(-ə)r, in place-name compounds ˌshir, shər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English scīr office, shire; akin to Old High German scīra care

Date:

before 12th century

1: an administrative subdivision ; especially : a county in England2: any of an old breed of large heavy draft horses of British origin having heavily feathered legs

[shire illustration]